A video has captured a two-year-old’s brave battle through 60 brutal rounds of chemotherapy.
Poppy Martin has been left partially sighted because of a cancerous tumour that has robbed her of vision from her left eye. It is now growing towards the right eye and is sitting on other parts of her brain.
The heartbreaking footage shows the toddler from Kent crying as she sits in hospital beds while connected to tubes.
It also shows the youngster after she has lost her hair from the gruelling treatment which she’s had almost weekly since being diagnosed 17 months ago.
Poppy’s family have been told by UK doctors there is now nothing more they can do for her.
Her mother Ellena created the poignant clip to shows Poppy’s journey since she was diagnosed with a genetic condition that causes growths along the nerves.
The family are now hoping to raise £300,000 to pay for pioneering treatment which is only available in the US.
Poppy Martin is partially sighted because of a tumour growing behind her eye
The toddler, 3, has had chemotherapy almost every week since she got ill in June last year
Her mother Ellena created the poignant video to shows Poppy’s journey since she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis
Ellena, who lives in Whitstable, Kent, said: ‘Poppy’s had chemo for most of her life.
‘She’s been having to get it almost weekly since being diagnosed in June last year.
‘I think in total she’s only had about eight weeks off and that has only been when she has picked up infections.’
Poppy has type one neurofibromatosis. The tumours are usually benign, but sometimes can become cancerous.
Complications of the disease can include hearing loss, learning impairment, heart problems, loss of vision, and severe pain.
Ellena and Poppy’s father Robbie Shields, a soldier from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, are hoping to raise £300,000 to pay for pioneering treatment which is only available in the US.
We thought she had a lazy eye
Ellen and Robbie first noticed Poppy had a normal cold when she was 15 months old, and her left eye had started to wander.
‘It was as if she had a bit of a lazy eye,’ said Ellen. ‘I mentioned to my mum and we thought it’s probably just because of the cold and we would give it a couple of days.
‘Once the cold had gone her eye still kept wandering. We went up to the hospital in Ashbury and they said they could see a tumour behind Poppy’s eye.’
The footage shows Poppyt crying as she sits in hospital beds while connected to tubes delivering chemotherapy
Poppy doesn’t sleep well as a side-effect of the intensive treatment.
‘Poppy started a different type of chemo last December which has been a lot better for her,’ said Ellen.
‘She doesn’t sleep well at the moment. The doctors said it’s probably headaches because of the tumour.
‘She’ll wake up through the night but I’m not allowed any medication such as paracetamol or anything because of the chemo so I can’t give her anything.
UK doctors have told family there is nothing more they can do forthe youngster
‘We no longer have time on our side’
But despite the months of back-to-back treatment, it isn’t slowing down the growth of the tumour.
‘We knew if this one went wrong we couldn’t have many options so I started looking on Google and found a top neuro in the states who would take on Poppy’s file and we could take it from there,’ explained Ellen.
The tumour has already taken most of the sight in Poppy’s left eye and is now growing towards the right eye
The girl’s family have launched an £300,000 appeal to pay for treatment abroad
‘I set up the Just Giving page a couple of weeks ago to help raise the money to get her to the states.
‘Our family has been amazing with setting up fundraisers including Tesco where I used to work who are fundraising and donating every penny to help Poppy.
Poppy’s Just Giving page, Poppy’s Plea, reads: ‘Our lives will never be the same again.
‘I am searching for help to find the right doctors who can take this awful, life threatening nightmare away from us.
‘We have been told the tumour is inoperable in the UK.
‘
‘Sadly we no longer have time on our side before the tumour does yet more irreversible damage – so we need to act fast.
‘We are desperately seeking help from doctors outside of the UK who have more advanced treatments and are more specialised in surgery.
‘We’re aiming to reach a target of £300,000 to cover costs of travel, accommodation, consultations and surgery to help save Poppy’s life. Any donations will be so gratefully appreciated.
‘Please help my little princess live a life free from this evil disease.’
So far the family have raised £18,681 of their £300,000 target. You can donate to Poppy’s cause by visiting here.